Alibaug is a beautiful beach town that offers a relaxing, tranquil break from city life. Clean beaches, road trips on winding roads, super delicious seafood preparations, beautiful sunsets, forts, green cover and a refreshing sea breeze make this the ideal long weekend getaway from Mumbai. For those who’re in the mood for a beach vacation (that is NOT Goa) here’s a fun plan!
Beach Hopping, Road Trips, And Forest Trails: All You Can Do In Alibaug
Stay In Comfortable Luxury
Cottages by the beach, sea-facing bungalows, farm-houses or resorts with private beaches, there is something for everyone here. Alibaug gives you the chance to enjoy the luxury of a beach vacation minus the hustle of Goa. Relaxing to the sounds and views of the sea and abundant greenery is one of the best experiences that make the stay in Alibaug memorable.
Where to stay: We recommend the U Tropicana Resort & Spa, if you're looking for a luxe-ish boutique stay in Alibaug. Surrounded by nature, this resort is luxury in peaceful surroundings.
Shell Out: INR 10,000 onwards for U Tropicana
More Options: Paradise Resort, Radisson Blue, Bohemyan Blue for glamping vibes, and Dewdrop Retreat are some of the other popular places to stay at.
Enjoy Yoga On The Beach
Nothing like a good workout as the town wakes up to the chirping of birds, the cry of the seagulls, and the crashing of the waves. The air is clean and fresh, and Alibaug beach is a lovely stretch of fine, clean sand, and Surya Namaskars and meditation are the ideal way to kickstart the lovely day that lies ahead! While the beach gets crowded later in the day, early mornings are tranquil enough to enjoy a yoga session here.
Where: Alibaug Beach
Price: Free
Or Take a Boat Trip To The Murud Janjira Fort
32 kilometre from Alibaug is Kashid, where lies a beautiful fort in the middle of the Arabian Sea. Approachable by boat, this is one of the strongest marine forts of India, and frequently visited by tourists. You can spend half a day here exploring the towers and turrets and secret passages. Ideal for history buffs, this makes for a great half-day trip from Alibaug.
Where: Murud Janjira Fort
Price: You take a little boat to the fort that costs no more than INR 50. Didn't take your car to Alibaug? We recommend booking a private taxi to Kashid beach!
Timings: 9 AM to 4 PM
Go Beach Hopping
Nagaon Beach, Kashid Beach, Varsoli Beach, Akshi Beach, Mandwa Beach, Murud Beach, Kondivli Beach, Kelshi Beach, Velas Beach or Kihim Beach—take your pick from the many beaches that line this beautiful Konkan coast around Alibaug. This way you can also indulge in some road tripping!
Recommendation: Don’t forget to stop for chai, vada pav and spicy misal pav at the street-side stalls.
Price: Free, not including food, of course.
Take A Road Trip To Korlai Fort & Lighthouse
22 kilometres from Alibaug, this is a Portuguese fort that is one of the most popular sightseeing spots in the region. This fort was built in 1521 AD, and is divided into three enclosures that contain a church, ruins and a water cistern. The lighthouse here is worth a visit too. The entry on the western side of the fort is the easiest route!
Entry: INR 20 entry fee to the lighthouse. Go early in the morning and come back before 5 PM.
P.S: The trek up to Korlai Fort from the village is on a rugged terrain, so don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes and clothes.
Go Parasailing
The popular beaches here provide entertainment options in the form of water sports, and a whole lot of parasailing! Alibaug and Kashid beaches provide the best parasailing experience in the region. There are several stalls on the beach run by local vendors that provide services for all kinds of water rides, including banana boats, donut rides and whatnot!
Where: Alibaug, Kashid and Nagaon Beach
Price: INR 1,200 and up (depends on which local group you're opting for, at the beach)
Enjoy A Forest Trail In Kanakeshwar Forest
If you love the wild, a walk through this forest is a must-do activity in Alibaug! The forest is gorgeous—green, dense and rich with flora and fauna. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you can wander deep in to spot the wildlife too (we hear that snakes and boars are spotted pretty often). Local guides are recommended.
Entry: Free
P.S: Carry Odomos, and do not venture alone. Go with company.
Visit Brahma Kund
20 kilometres from Alibaug, this is a religious spot that is frequented by tourists who love history and culture and, of course, Indian mythology. The kund or water tank is surrounded on all four sides by steps that lead down to the water. You'll also find a Maruti Mandir and a statue of Mirchi Baba here. Legend has it that the Hindu God Lord Brahma bathed an infant Lord Krishna at this very spot.
Entry: Free
Savour Delicious Seafood
No trip to Alibaug is complete without indulging in the most authentic seafood preparations. There are a lot of options to choose from, but if you’re overwhelmed or simply confused, a fish thali is always a good idea! Sanman, Suruchi, Bohemyan Blue, and Saffron, are some of the popular restaurants in Alibaug that you can head to for a tasty meal. Well, we can't wait to plan our next Alibaug getaway. What about you?
Eat At: Sanman Restaurant, Waves Restaurant, Kasturi Mahila Udhyog and Sanidhya Resort, Kihim for vegetarian fare.
Price: INR 800 for two
Visit The Native Biodiversity Garden
Did you know that Alibaug has its own biodiversity park? Well, now you do! This privately owned park is all about conserving the area's unique natural heritage and familiarising visitors to its unique habitat. Explore the unique flora and ecosystem of the region as you explore the 17 different thematic sections of the park. Located close to Teenvira Dam, it's an educational way to spend an afternoon. You can also buy native plants to deck up your own home here. It houses over 500 different varieties of plants!
Price: Free entry
Cylcle Along Alibaug's Beaches
If you love cycling and the active lifestyle, we can't think of a better way to spend a morning—think sunrises over the Arabian Sea and chai stops at tea stalls with the sea air for company. You can rent a bike from Alibaug Tourism by calling them up. They've got several options to choose from, from basic to premium cycles.
Price: INR 600 onwards.
P.S: You'll need an ID and a deposit of INR 1,200 before you can rent a bike
Buono Pizzeria
Are you just a little bit pedantic about your pizza? A pizzeria has opened up in Alibaug that's just as particular about fresh dough, fresher toppings and perfect flavour. Buono's for those that want to include a true-blue Neapolitan-pizza experience to their weekend getaway. While all the pizzas are great, wash it all down with their delicious Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso. It'll help with the incoming food coma, too!
Price: INR 1,000 for two
Timings: 11 AM to 11 PM
SUJU's Art Cafe, MIDC Pipeline Road
Chose Alibaug for a hectic workation? We found a beautiful and affordable workspace-cum-cafe that does art workshops every now and then, and serves up local food and snacks. Think sabudana vadas in the monsoon, and thalipeeth when the nights get colder. You can spend the day working here, but remember to fuel up.
Price: INR 300 onwards
Mayoor Bakery, Tilak Road
This iconic spot has been around since 1977, and has been dishing out khobra cakes and veggie puffs. They're not your usual neighborhood bakery, though, they've also got palmiers, croissants, gingerbread houses for Christmas time, brioches and apple pie. Craving baked goods? Make a beeline for this one, and snack on them at your stay, between meals.
Price: INR 70 onwards
Magnetic Observatory, Alibaug
Established all the way back in April 1904, this spot was made by the Brits, and is one of only 13 such observatories in the world. It also happens to be the only one in Asia. Located away from the influence of the equatorial electrojet (best to Google this one). The observatory is open to public, and you can take a look at the mini-museum here. In case entry is restricted for security reasons, stay around for the views, and delicious local eats. Entry is free!
Timings: 10 AM to 5 PM